32 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



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 fastened up to a wire trellis. In garden culture stakes are often 

 used, to whieh the hill is fastened in a loose bunch. Verj'- g-ood re- 

 sults have come from growing the reds in loose, continuous rows, 

 headed back so they will stand alone, and inulched heavily to keep 

 the fruit clean. 



In this climate winter protection is always beneficial and with 

 some varieties absolutel}' necessary. The most convenient method 

 practiced at the present time is laying down and covering lightl}^ 

 with earth. With the protection of the blackcaps I have had but 

 little experience, generally trusting to turning a furrow towards the 

 row, banking up and mulching, and to the snow that lodges among 

 them. For more trying situations than mine and for the garden, the 

 throwing up of a mound of earth or even the mouldj^ material 

 against one side of the plants and binding them over it and laying- 

 over them brush, poles, laths or anything else to keep them down 

 and hold the snow, would generally answer. Some practice cutting- 

 loose from stakes and placing a forkful of prairie hay, cornstalks or 

 dry grass over them. 



In protecting the roots, we begin at the end of the row from which 

 the canes are to be bent and either throw a spadeful of earth 

 ao-ainst the hill on that side or remove a forkful from the roots 

 to the depth of three or four inches; then step to the opposite side 

 and with a fork bend the whole hill over until it lays upon the 

 around and is fastened by a boy or another man throwing- 

 sufficient earth upon the top to hold.it there; then proceed with 

 the next hill in the same manner, laying it over so the tops come 

 beside the space of the first; and so on through the row. All of the 

 plants in the row should be bent in the same direction. To bend the 

 plants sharply over and cover with earth would cause many of the 

 stronger ones to break just above the roots, but they will bend over 

 the mound, or in case of taking a little earth awaj' in the root, with- 

 out any injury. After the row is all down two men, one on either 

 side, with spades can put on a light covering of soil very quickl}-. 

 or they may generally be sufficiently covered with a horse and 

 plow throwing a light furrow towards them from each side. It maj- 

 be necessarj' to follow with shovel and increase the covering here 

 and there. In the spring as soon as hard frosts are over, begin at 

 the end from which the plants were bent and with a fork throw and 

 push the covering aside and gently lift the canes out of the soil, 

 taking pains to level the ground and not leave it heaped up against 

 the hills. This work should not be done when the ground is wet 

 and stick}-, unless the season is so late that there is danger of the 

 canes decaying unless exposed to the air. 



Best varieties for Minnesota. The Turner is about the hard- 

 iest of all the red-fruited varieties, and the fruit is of a very 

 superior cjualitj' for family use. It is early and in flavor surpasses 

 all of its class. It is an inveterate producer of suckers or plants, 

 and to do well it must be kept in hills of five or six canes or in thin 

 rows and all other plants kept hoed out except a sufficient number 

 to take their place for next year's fruiting. Next to the Turner 

 comes the Marlboro, just a little later in ripening, fruit of large size, 

 fine appearance, firmer for market but not so good in quality. The 



